Visiting the Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad

My sister and I had a very bookish day in Carlsbad a few weeks ago – which, honestly, is becoming one of my favorite types of days.

We met up for coffee in Carlsbad Village at Baba Coffee before heading over to the Georgina Cole Library, which is only about a mile away. It felt like the perfect afternoon plan – coffee and books.

Last year, I fully fell down a reading rabbit hole after getting into fantasy… and it kind of took over my life. Now I’m always reading – usually two books at once. It’s a bit intense, but I’m not mad about it. Hahaha.

My sister, on the other hand, has been a lifelong reader. She’s read thousands of books – I swear she read a book a week when we were kids. I’m just catching up all these years later.

She even has a BookTube channel called The Millennial Book Junkie where she talks about all things thriller. That’s her lane – thrillers, suspense, cabin-in-the-woods chaos… she loves it.

We’ve also been scary movie girls since we were kids. The scarier the better. Watching horror movies together is one of our favorite activities – our husbands think we’re insane. They’re not wrong. 😂

But let’s get into the library itself.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. Please note these do not impact my review, and no extra costs have been added to the items mentioned.  

 

Location & Info

The Georgina Cole Library is located right on Carlsbad Village Drive – just off the freeway and super close to the main village area.

Address:
1250 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Phone:
442-339-2870

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Friday & Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM

First Impressions

My sister and I usually do Barnes & Noble dates, but a few months ago we decided we needed to become library people. So we got library cards and made a whole day out of it – coffee, browsing, the full cozy experience.

We originally signed up at the main Carlsbad City Library (they have a coffee shop – elite vibes), but this was our first time visiting the Georgina Cole location.

And I loved it immediately.

It’s smaller and very community-driven. Cozy, quiet, and full of locals just doing their thing – reading, working, studying. It felt like such a good third space, which we’re all desperately in need of lately.

@julia.vaness Library time with sister! Today we visited the Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad. #visitcarlsbad #librarytiktok #bookish #bookgirlies #carlsbadlibrary ♬ original sound – Julia Vaness

 

Inside the Library

As soon as we walked in, we split up – naturally.

She went straight to mystery and thriller, and I made a beeline for fantasy and romance. We truly live in different literary worlds.

Before settling in, I did a little walk-through of the space.

The downstairs is the main floor – that’s where you’ll find:

• Book checkout areas
• Computers and workstations
• The kids section
• A small bookstore area
• The help desk

Upstairs is quieter and more tucked away. There’s a Carlsbad historical section and additional workspace seating if you want a more focused environment.

Seeing so many people working there honestly motivated me to get out of the house more. I work from home, so changing scenery every now and then is good for my brain.

What We Checked Out

I showed restraint… which was difficult.

I ended up checking out:

• My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
• The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen

Both were very on brand for me – fantasy with a little romance mixed in.

My sister, meanwhile, checked out five books. All cabin thrillers. She’s working on a YouTube video about thrillers set in secluded cabins, so she was on a mission.

The Library Card Perk

One of the most exciting discoveries?

You get a full-size library card… and a mini keychain version. I LOVE KEYCHAINS!

You already know I clipped that onto my keys immediately. I feel very official now and honestly want to start collecting library cards from everywhere. 😂

Overall Experience

We had such a good time here.

It was easy to browse, easy to check out books, and returning them was just as simple – I popped them right into the return bin outside.

I even told my husband I want to make this a regular routine – checking out books instead of constantly buying them. It saves money and space… both things I need help with. Hahaha.

The whole space felt comforting, local, and very community-oriented. The kind of place you can spend a few quiet hours without feeling rushed.

I already can’t wait to go back and pick up my next stack of reads.

If you have any book recs – fantasy, romance, or a little spooky – send them my way. I’m always adding to my list. 

 

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About the author: Hey there! I’m Julia, a passionate theme park and travel writer. My love for theme parks has fueled my obsession with sharing tips and adventures for years. Join me as I uncover the magic of reading and beyond!

 

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